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Chair Leaders rolling for accessibility in Ontario!

Queens Park MPPs and CPA Ontario in partnership

TORONTO, May 11 /CNW/ - Ontario MPPs will partner with the Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) Ontario at the Ontario Legislature Building on Wednesday May 12th to be Chair Leaders and spend their work day using a wheelchair to demonstrate the importance of accessibility to people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.

Chair Leaders is an educational event whereby CPA Ontario invites leaders from municipal, provincial and federal levels of government and the private sector to spend a day at work using a wheelchair. The program's objective is:

- to increase awareness of the importance of providing a barrier-free
environment for all citizens throughout our communities

"This event is being held across the country to inform those in power who are able to make change. If our community leaders understand the potential barriers people who use wheelchairs face every day - then in turn, perhaps they will do what is necessary so that all people can fully participate in their communities," says CPA Ontario Executive Director, Bill Adair.

In addition to the MPPs at Queens Park, three Toronto Mayoral candidates (Rob Ford, Rocco Rossi and George Smitherman), many MPs on Parliament Hill and mayors across Ontario will all be participating in Chair Leaders to support CPA Ontario through sponsorship and awareness.

There are approximately 12,000 Ontarians currently living with a spinal cord injury, and there are 350 - 400 new injuries in the province every year. That is about one injury every day. Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario is a non-profit organization that assists persons with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities to achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation. 2010 marks the 65th anniversary of CPA Ontario's start in Toronto by veterans seeking a better life after sustaining a spinal cord injury during war service.

SOURCE Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario

For further information: For further information: Andrea Ronan, Community Development Coordinator, (705) 726-4546 ext. 226, or andrea.ronan@cpaont.org